John Roisland

Jessica Cameron’s Truth or Dare

Looking for something you may have missed over the past few years? Trying to find those lost titles to add to your DVD collection? Then have I got a film title for you…Truth or Dare. This wonderfully twisted and often gory Indie horror film was written by, directed by, and stars the always lovely Jessica Cameron.

Released through Ms. Cameron’s own Small Town Girl Productions, Truth or Dare focuses around a group of young adults who have found stardom and fame of its own kind by hosting a YouTube channel show called — you guessed it — Truth or Dare. Truth or Dare is an Internet-based reality show wherein each week the group plays the old game we all grew up playing but on a much more grown up and dangerous level. “How ?” you ask. Okay. For example, the film starts off with the group on a beach where actress Jessica Cameron picks dare and has to shoot fellow gamer Tony, played by Brandon Van Vilet, in the face with a handgun. Not quite how I played when I was young. Nevertheless, with stunts like this, the ratings for the show soar! Now you get the gist of how they play their rendition of Truth or Dare.

While interviewing on a local TV talk show, the group are confronted with questions by a member of the audience who seems to be a bit too eager and intense and is bounced out the door on his ass. But that’s not the last we see of our greasy little fanboy…

We next see our group in a basement getting ready to shoot another episode when in from behind the plastic tarps walks in our fanboy, played by Ryan Kiser who gives a stellar performance as Derik B. Smith. Smith, a fanboy stalker if you will, knows every -single- hidden inch of our new stars’ past and uses it against all of them to play his version of Truth or Dare, and of course, streams it all live on the web.

Smith’s version of Truth or Dare is basically the same as the group’s: You pick truth or dare, and you answer or act out whatever is asked of you 100%. The one small difference is that Smith’s dares are real! From the bullet in the gun to the blade on the knife to questions that can ruin or change lives, all of it is real. There’s no acting and no stunts, so many rounds end in death.

Jessica Cameron brought to the screen something that permeates today’s world — uploaded video, the more shocking and violent the better. Cameron brought plenty of that in Truth or Dare, including a few dares that are surprising if not shocking, to say the least!

If you haven’t seen this gem of an Indie horror film, you must. It will not disappoint! Jessica, great job all around with this one, and thank you for the screener. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for me next!

On a side note, be sure to keep an eye out for Jessica starring in Stephen Biro’s The Song of Solomon, an American Guinea Pig Film Series release from Unearthed Films, coming in March, 2018. You’re not going to want to miss it!

Horror fan bringing my love for the genre to world in as many forms I can- website, podcast, vlogs, and coming soon, producer! Through this, I am living my nightmarish dreams. Join me.... if you can handle it!

Jessica Cameron’s Truth or Dare

Looking for something you may have missed over the past few years? Trying to find those lost titles to add to your DVD collection? Then have I got a film title for you…Truth or Dare. This wonderfully twisted and often gory Indie horror film was written by, directed by, and stars the always lovely Jessica Cameron.

Released through Ms. Cameron’s own Small Town Girl Productions, Truth or Dare focuses around a group of young adults who have found stardom and fame of its own kind by hosting a YouTube channel show called — you guessed it — Truth or Dare. Truth or Dare is an Internet-based reality show wherein each week the group plays the old game we all grew up playing but on a much more grown up and dangerous level. “How ?” you ask. Okay. For example, the film starts off with the group on a beach where actress Jessica Cameron picks dare and has to shoot fellow gamer Tony, played by Brandon Van Vilet, in the face with a handgun. Not quite how I played when I was young. Nevertheless, with stunts like this, the ratings for the show soar! Now you get the gist of how they play their rendition of Truth or Dare.

While interviewing on a local TV talk show, the group are confronted with questions by a member of the audience who seems to be a bit too eager and intense and is bounced out the door on his ass. But that’s not the last we see of our greasy little fanboy…

We next see our group in a basement getting ready to shoot another episode when in from behind the plastic tarps walks in our fanboy, played by Ryan Kiser who gives a stellar performance as Derik B. Smith. Smith, a fanboy stalker if you will, knows every -single- hidden inch of our new stars’ past and uses it against all of them to play his version of Truth or Dare, and of course, streams it all live on the web.

Smith’s version of Truth or Dare is basically the same as the group’s: You pick truth or dare, and you answer or act out whatever is asked of you 100%. The one small difference is that Smith’s dares are real! From the bullet in the gun to the blade on the knife to questions that can ruin or change lives, all of it is real. There’s no acting and no stunts, so many rounds end in death.

Jessica Cameron brought to the screen something that permeates today’s world — uploaded video, the more shocking and violent the better. Cameron brought plenty of that in Truth or Dare, including a few dares that are surprising if not shocking, to say the least!

If you haven’t seen this gem of an Indie horror film, you must. It will not disappoint! Jessica, great job all around with this one, and thank you for the screener. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for me next!

On a side note, be sure to keep an eye out for Jessica starring in Stephen Biro’s The Song of Solomon, an American Guinea Pig Film Series release from Unearthed Films, coming in March, 2018. You’re not going to want to miss it!

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I finally got a chance to view the highly anticipated 2014 Clown. First, let me clarify because too many people are under the wrong impression... THIS IS NOT AN ELI ROTH FILM!!! The film itself was written by Christopher Ford and Jon Watts and was directed by Jon Watts as well. Eli Roth was one of the producers for the film, along with three others and six executive producers... That does not make this an Eli Roth film. So many are saying this is one of his films, and it’s not! Why not just ask Jon Watts how it was to work under Roth during the making of Clown? Then kick him in the nuts as well!

Now that that's out of the way... I had been wanting to see Clown since first having read about and, of course, later having seen trailer for it. Well, God Bless America, but what do I happen to see on Netflix but Clown?! I was thrilled!!!!

The storyline of Clown is of a good dad trying to be the hero to his son’s birthday party when he finds an old clown outfit and wears it to the party after the hired clown cancels at last minute. Good dad to the rescue! Now for the bad part…

After the party is over, Dad can’t get the costume off. It literally is stuck on his body. One might almost say that it is becoming one with his body. After some research, he discovers that the outfit he put on is, for lack of better words, possessed by a once demonic clown who killed and fed off children. I'm not going to say much else about the film because I do hope many of you give it a chance. It is a solid film and deserves to be watched. My review isn't so much a bad movie review as it is a let down on how much potential I think it had. There is honestly a difference!

I don't think I've been so on the line with a film in a very long time! Clown holds so many high points, very dark, very disturbing high points. Clown also holds so many low, predictable, and almost generic points to it. Just when you think it’s great, it pulls some cheesy shit and, to me, it would just fall to hell.

I didn't expect much from the film even though I wanted to see it for so long, I still didn't have very high expectations, and I was wrong. It is a good solid film. I just think if they had stuck with their original dark thoughts and finished that way, it would have been even better.

I really wanted to like it a lot more than I did. Sadly, if I were to give Clown a numerical rating, it would probably be a 3 or maybe a 4, not because of how bad it was because, honestly, it wasn't...but because of how great it really could have been!!

I will say this, the dad, or Kent, played by Andy Powers was spot on. From the role of loving father through his changing ways, shall we say, he did a great job. And I MUST, MUST, MUST say this, let’s call it, the rainbow-colored splatter: GENIUS!!!

Clown is on Netflix. Give it a shot, and let House of Tortured Souls know what you think!

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Haunters: The Art of the Scare, or as many simply refer to it Haunters the Movie, is a 2017 documentary brought to you by Brain Factory Production. Where The American Scream first brought us a light hearted look at local family haunts and a few years later The Houses October Built dabbled into the search for the more extreme in home haunts, Haunters: The Art of the Scare brings you the absolute best of both!

Writer/producer/director Jon Schnitzer takes an in depth look at a wide variety of home haunts through the United States of America. From jump scare haunts to over the top, all out, full contact haunts, Schnitzer serves up a little bit everything for you to sample, a smorgasbord of selections to satisfy your personal palate.

As most of you by now know, I love Halloween and everything about it. Furthermore, I love (crave, even) Halloween-themed movies, so when I first caught wind of Haunters: The Art of the Scare, I was super stoked, to say the least! There is truly nothing I love more than a documentary film about one of my passions…HALLOWEEN!!

Haunters: The Art of the Scare not only examines the art of haunting, it also embraces the passion of legendary haunt actors and shows the history of the haunt and the progression and evolution of home haunts through the years to today’s now legendary the current most extreme haunt in the world – McKamey Manor. Not too shabby considering it’s all being run out of his own home!. It even illustrates how religious organizations actually utilized home haunts to help recruit for their churches.

In-depth behind the scene interviews with haunt owners, actors, builders, and, of course, haunt audience responses cast a light on the underappreciated art of home haunts. The thing I most admired is that not only did Schnitzer capture great behind the scenes footage (it’s always amazing to see what goes on behind the curtain so to speak), but he also captured the haunters’ family lives and how having a home haunt effects and takes its toll on family. Building and running a haunt is a second full-time job for these folks, and as much support as the family gives, sometimes they just run out of things to give…

Haunters: The Art of the Scare does focus a lot on McKamey Manor, but let’s face it, when a haunt requires you to be vetted through a screening process to find out if potential attendees are physically and mentally able of traveling across the world just to go through, you know it’s worth showing! The haunt has gained such huge notoriety that Schnitzer compiled a nice guest list of horror actors and others well-known names in horror (Jen and Sylvia Soska, Jason Blum, and Jessica Cameron to name a few) to add their own thoughts on extreme haunts.

Haunters: The Art of the Scare is currently airing on Netflix and should be high on your to watch list! This documentary packs a punch while still showing the true lives of home haunters!

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Some time back, actor/musician/producer/writer and now director Rocky Gray sent me a press release for a film he was working on called 10/31, he told me to always keep tabs with on it, because as he said, “I think you’re really gonna like it!” So for the past what seems to be eons now of awaited anticipation…and yes, bothering the hell outta Rocky (sorry bro, lol!), he sends me a screener of the film.

10/31 is an Indie horror anthology film that runs about 135 minutes and is pure enjoyment! First, as many of you know, I love Halloween- based movies. I mean I am a sucker for them! But that’s not to say that there hasn’t been a share of them that I also thought were pieces of shit! This, however, is not one of them!

10/31 is opened by the lovely and talented Jennifer Nangle who plays Malvolia the Queen of Screams, a horror host on a TV in a home on Halloween night, who sets you off on your journey of dark and twisted tales of Halloween.

This anthology film is full of horrific stories of terror brought to you by some of the newest and up and coming talent and features segments were directed by Brett Dejager – “Halloween Blizzard of ’91”, Rocky Gray – “The Samhain Slasher”, Zane Hershberger – “Trespassers”, John William Holt – “Killing the Dance”, Hunter Johnson – “Malvolia the Scream Queen”, and Justin M. Seaman (yes, who you all just recently saw on our live video podcast!) – “The Old Hag”.

Each story is different, original, and yet horrifying in their own ways, from stories of haunted homes, property owners, a new meaning of roller disco, and even Samhain!

The collaboration of these talented filmmakers really shines in this film. Each of them truly showing their own passion and twisted images of Halloween horror. Brought to life by some great acting which includes Jordan Phipps (Close Calls), Katie Wagrave (Bonejangles), Cindy Maples (Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories) and Chad Burns (Stargazer) to name just a few.

The amount of support and backing in the production, I must say, is very impressive with 20 producers on the film, some of them being a few of the segment directors as well as a handful of others including Nick Ford, Kirby Gocke, and P.J. Starks.

Was waiting for this release of 10/31 a pain in the ass? YES!! Was waiting for 10/31 worth the wait? HELL YES!!

10/31 is a fun, yet horrific downward spiral of tales darkness and horror of Halloween at is best!

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Train to Busan is a 2016 South Korean zombie flick that is a breath of fresh air!! The storyline... Well, like in any other zombie film: run and don't get eaten! Okay, that's the same here. Our story centers around a divorced father and young daughter who are traveling by train to get to... you guessed it, Busan. They are trying to get his daughter back to her mother. The father sadly is a workaholic and spends no time with his daughter, and that also plays an emotionally important part in the story.

While the father and daughter are travelling, an outbreak has begun and, yes, people are starting to turn into zombies. Only becoming aware of the situations via cell phones while en route, the crowded train learns the hard way at a scheduled stop that things are a lot worse than what they had expected - having been anticipating a military welcome in what was supposedly a safe area.

Without giving anything away from the film, you use your imagination as to what happens next...on its way to Busan.

What sets Train to Busan apart from other recent zombie films is how it's shot. The first thing that really hit me was how sharp and bright the colors in the film are. Most are dark and almost dingy, but this could have been used for a Clorox color-safe bleach commercial. The colors just seemed to pop and everything just seemed to be so damn clean!

The makeup and special FX used were spot on! No masks and no use of dirt and buckets of blood for decay value, all while still packing a punch and throwing a few holy shit moments at you. It was a near-perfect zombie film.

Lastly, one thing I’ve learned over the years with Asian horror films, they are either so far over-the-top-what-the-fuck-did-I-just-watch kind of film or they are extremely brutal and violent and usually very sexually oriented, often in a somewhat perverted way. I'm not saying that I don't enjoy all those qualities in a good wholesome Asian horror film, but Train to Busan possessed none of those stereotypical qualities. It is just a straight-ahead zombie film, with a great ending!

Train to Busan was directed by Sang-ho-Yeon, runs just under 2 hours long, is subtitled, and is currently on Netflix. I really can’t suggest Train to Busan enough!

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Dreaming Purple Neon is a 2016 independent horror film by Extreme Entertainment and released by Unearthed Films. It was both written and directed by Todd Sheets, who has also brought us such goodies as Spirits (2014) and Bone Hill Road (2017). Dreaming Purple Neon is a pure 100% Indie horror B flick at it finest!

The basis of the story is that Purple Neon, a beautiful glowing drug, turns its users into demonic creatures that follow the word of High Demoness, Abaddon. She, in turn, uses her now-demon slaves to brutally kill and take over the world.

When a drug dealer’s stash goes missing at the hands of his new office girl, he and his thug trace her down at a dentist office building where she’s meeting a friend to go out for the night. After the doors are locked, however, it’s more than just drug dealer revenge. The entire building is locked down and being taken over by the cult of Abaddon in order to use a young girl, one of the dentist’s patients, as a vessel to conjure Abaddon into the living. This is where things get fun — from a naked seance to a bitch with horns for nipples, shit just got real!

When Dreaming Purple Neon starts, it looks like it’s going to be a bad Indie film, but it turns into a bloodbath! Todd Sheets was able to physically take what I’m going to call the normal, the everyday life on film, and perfectly mesh it with what I will call the underworld. You are transported visually through the chaos as it spreads through the film till you are completely submerged into a world of blood-soaked violence. Sheets’ use of color schemes throughout the film is brilliant but yet not overdone.

From the start of the film, I really wasn’t expecting much out of the kill scenes. Boy, was I wrong! Todd Sheets gives audiences full-on, over-the-top, blood-spewing death! Cannibalism, murder, possession, power drills and Gene Simmons — what more could you want!

Dreaming Purple Neon delivered in many ways and is a mind trip of a great Indie horror film. I can’t wait to see what Todd Sheets brings us next!

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GWAR has been one of my favorite bands for the past 30 years now. Known for playing on or around Halloween in Baltimore I took every opportunity to grab some passes to see them now that I’m back in Maryland after many years of being gone from the area. Rams Head Live in Baltimore was the venue on this Thursday night. A good sized club always brings in big acts and is a pretty cool venue with pretty much not a bad seat( all general admission) in the place. GWAR is one band that to see live is one that I would HAVE to cover for a story. My wife Steff had never seen GWAR before, that alone was almost reason enough to go.

By the time we got there GHOUL was just about to go on stage. GHOUL is a fun mix of GWAR, MENTORS, MISFITS with a touch of MOTORHEAD! Keeping in touch with the Halloween spirit with a horror punk sound. I don’t think Gwar could have found a better band to hit the road with. Both lyrically and their stage presence oozes horror. As for starters, if your not familiar with GHOUL, they all wear burlap sack, masks with bloody mouths, have stage actors that they behead and spray blood out on to the crowd and sing of death and graveyards while they have the look of just committed a nasty home invasion. GHOUL ARE FUCKING AWESOME!! What a great live act and a great bunch of guys as I was fortunate enough to have run into a few of them after the show.

Finally,…after a bit of a wait from what seemed to have been some technical issues, GWAR makes their way to the stage. By this time the crowd had started to fill up, sadly it wasn’t to overly packed, but then again it was a Thursday ….and the general age of the crowd…well, we aren’t as young as we once were. GWAR come out on stage and its always something new, every tour. The stage show is creative, overwhelming at times, oh..and bloody violent. Kind of makes you feel like your mixing a Lloyd Kaufman film to shock rock extreme music, in one live nightmare!

This was my first time having seen GWAR since the passing of the late great ODERUS URUNGUS, it was hard waiting to hear some of the old classics, and yet only one was done, Black and Huge. It was actually kind of nice that the band left it alone. Regardless, the stage show over the top as always, and for the club only charging $20.00 tickets, makes you wonder how these guys are making a penny because they really do put a lot into it!

Of course, they always touch on a few big media items such as government and religion, that the boys are always more than welcome to slay and befoul on stage and spray gallons of blood and other bodily fluids on to the audience. From a decapitated priest to Blothar ejaculating on the crowd, it was a wet floor, to say the least!

It was the same day as the show that the heart-wrenching news surfaced about guitarist Michael Derks, best known to the world as Balsac the Jaws of Death. I had noticed from the get go that he wasn’t on stage. So, just kind of assumed that with the recent medical news that maybe he had decided to take the rest of the tour off…I was wrong. It must have been the third song that Balsac made his stage presence, and what a crowd response he was given, and seemed as if he really played his heart out that night.

GWAR played for over an hour and a half. For these aging gentlemen, those costumes, props, lighting, stage theatrics and pure energy, I’ve got to give them credit cause most of the people in the crowd were winded. The last song came around, and how suiting, it was a cover of AC/DC’s If You Want Blood. Not only did they do a great job of the song, they also did a great job of making a complete mess of the venue and everyone that was in it! If you were one of the fortunate ones who hadn’t got spewed or gutted on, you were about to! I honestly don’t think there was a dry place in the club by the end of the song.

As I mentioned earlier, my wife had never seen GWAR before. When they came on stage she and I got split up, I went up to the stage to take photo’s and she went front and center stage in the crowd with old friend of mine who catches them every time they roll into town with his daughter no less. So the band exited the stage, house lights came on, ..and they were, the three of them, all blue and red and I do mean from head to toe soaked in stage spray! The smile on my wife’s face was priceless, she had been GWAR’d!!

GHOUL and GWAR thank you both for the passes and thank you both for such a great show, you guys are the goods!!

Visit Gwar on their website and see all the great things you’ve been missing: Gwar-Official Site of the Gods also check out the almighty and amazing GHOUL on their official site..I’m telling you this band is something to look out for. Ghoul-Official site!

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The Houses October Built and the recent follow up release, The Houses October Built 2, are two of my favorite films! Let's face it. With the abundance of horror films being made either through Hollywood budgets or Indie fan-funded projects, there's a shit ton of mediocre to bad horror being produced. Since October is the month for horror and scares and with Halloween just around the corner, the options for viewing are endless. During this season I try to stick with Halloween-themed films.

In 2014, I first viewed The Houses October Built. It instantly became part of my personal top five horror films! And, in keeping in with my Halloween-themed films, it's about a group of friends who travel from haunt to haunt in search of the extreme. Now, I ask you: what can be more Halloween than haunts?

Then 2017 came, and the crew released the follow-up, The Houses October Built 2. This sequel answered questions that had left audiences pondering in the closing frames of the original, kept the viewer's Halloween spirit engaged, and ended with an entirely new set of holy-shit-what-the-fuck questions.

After viewing The Houses October Built and launching House of Tortured Souls, I had been trying to get in touch with any or all staff for a written interview. However, once I tracked down the right people through social media, there were always scheduling conflicts. Time went on, and I had resigned myself to the fact that it wasn't going to happen. Still, I proudly supported the films and helped out the best I could on social media by sharing their posts.

It was this past Thursday, October 19, 2017, at approximately 2:30 pm EST when I figured what the hell and sent an email to them in hopes of setting up an interview sometime within the next few years. With part 2 only having been out for a few weeks, I knew they would be busy, but I also figured why not give it a shot? Within an hour, I got a response asking if I was available that day. Long story short, within two hours, both writers/directors/stars of both The Houses October Built parts 1 and 2, Bobby Roe and Zack Andrews, were staring me in the face live through a House of Tortured Souls LIVE video podcast.

We had a great chat, and it was a thrill to have met them and an honor to have them on the show. The guys discuss the origins of the film, working together, haunts, and even dabble in what may be next! So join me as I bring you my afternoon with Bobby Roe and Zack Andrews of The Houses October Built!

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Looking for more to do than just 31 days of horror? Front porch all decorated and waiting for trick or treaters? Then go to a local haunt! Chances are there's one close to where you live, and you don't even realize it. This past weekend I was fortunate enough to do just that in Columbus, New Jersey. Columbus brings BloodShed Farms to life!

The location is relatively convenient, and the setting is perfect! Once you have paid your admission, you walk through a small section of a cornfield trail that opens up into a grass-based clearing, almost like a park. There you have vendors, interactive events like pumpkin smashing, food vendors, and, hell, they even have a decapitated basketball throw. There are picnic tables for resting frightened bones and even a stage for the endless entertainment they offer, be it scary-okee or the likes of a special guest, like The Enigma who will be there on Friday and Saturday the 20th and 21st... Sorry I had to miss that! Their roaming characters that are great at interacting with guests and are always willing to do a photo opp.

From the central area called The Reapers Ball, you can easily be guided to one of the five attractions that they offer.

Clown-O-Phobia is an incredibly well-built walk-through that will keep you moving and always keep you guessing. Welcome to the mind of The Circus Rejects! From screams to laughs...and even bubbles, you won't be let down!

The Trail of Terror is just that! Mix Deliverance and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre together with some amazing props and terrorizing actors that even the deepest South wouldn't want to mess with, and you are on the right TRAIL!

Hellsgate Asylum...WOW! This walk-through will quickly penetrate your deep psyche as you enter into this insane asylum gone.....INSANE! A number of hospital props and character acting in Hellsgate was truly amazing and blood-curdling!

The Last Ride was actually the first event that I ventured on. You are seated with approximately 20 other guests on a cornride - not a hayride but cornride - through a vast property (all cornfields) with creatures of the night lurking and leering at you and some even jumping on the ride to torment and scare. They even bring back the dead at the end of the ride. That made it a real thriller!!

The Camper Escape Room is one attraction that, sadly, I did not venture through, but I really wish I had! It is exactly what it says it is: a full-size RV/camper that you enter and have 15 minutes to figure out how to escape!

My night spent at BloodShed Farms was one that I shall not soon forget and will most definitely make the two-hour drive back to experience again! The night was dark, lit with smoky skies, and it was as if I had walked through a cornfield and wandered into a nightmare of a Halloween carnival. I was introduced to many of the staff who actually told me they were sorry that we had come on that night because of some staffing/technical issues. If I could have punched them all in the dick for having said that I would have. It was awesome, and I hope all the staff and owners of BloodShed Farms are proud of the job they are doing! I would be.

Be sure to check them out online, and check their calendar because the days of the month are going fast. Prices vary, but they are very reasonable for what BloodShed Farms offers. The haunt is child- and family-friendly....but it ain't Disney. Use some damn common sense. If you know your kid or spouse is a wimp, then leave them at home... Or bring them and torture their ass. Muhahaha! That works too! Lines may be long, so get there early or ask about the VIP program.

Any horror and haunt fans in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, or Maryland areas should get off your asses and get to BloodShed Farms. And tell them I sent you! My only disappointment is that I hardly took any pictures because I was having too much fun, but please take my word for it – you do NOT want to miss this.

Thank you, BloodShed Farms, for a great Halloween night of fun and terror. It was the most fun we have had in a long time!

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Ah, yes. It's that time of year again! October is a truly magical time. Not only do we get to see the changes as Mother Nature transforms life to death, covering us in her cool, crisp air and the skeletal images of the now bare trees. We get to break out the long-awaited hoodies, pumpkins, and all things pumpkin spice (it truly IS a scary time of year), and we get to decorate houses for my personal favorite holiday - HALLOWEEN! For horror fans, Halloween isn't one day. It isn't JUST October 31st... Oh no, no, no! This is simply the day that you build up to. October 31st is the climatic orgasm of autumn. Aside from decorating, costumes and trick or treating, you must also enjoy masses amounts of horror movies!!

Many pride themselves on doing the 31 Days of Horror challenge where they watch at least one horror movie per day throughout the month of October ending on Halloween night itself! A fun challenge for all horror fans! The beauty with this is you pick it. Any style horror film is up for the challenge, be it classic monster movies such as Dracula and Frankenstein or slasher films like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Or maybe you prefer something from the paranormal - The Exorcist or Angel Heart - or perhaps some great Indie horror films like Circus of the Dead or Pieces of Talent. Whatever your flavor is, it's all good, and it's all up to you to decide.

There are a million and one different ways you can mix and match your Halloween viewing. I personally TRY to stick with the theme of Halloween in my choices. I've always enjoyed the holiday horror-themed films, so I figured it only made sense that my Top 5 Halloween Films are the same. Now please don't confuse this with my personal favorite horror movie... No, these are my HALLOWEEN go-to movies and are not ranked!

Hotel Transylvania (2012)

I adored this film as it brought back some classic monsters and threw them in to an animated film that adults and kids could both honestly enjoy together. It's important to teach the kids about horror at a young age. After all, isn't that where horror is home?

Trick 'r Treat (2007)

The first time I saw this sleeper hit I instantly fell in love with it! It brings many Halloween superstitions to life in one film that mixes a few stories and rolls them all together in one beautifully filmed trat. A new and true Halloween classic!

The Houses October Built (2014)

This is another sleeper hit that grew and has reached cult status. This film actually had a profound impact on me and climbed straight to the top of my all time favorite films list! It's hard for me to actually say enough about this film other than it's not just watched at Halloween in my house!

Halloween (1978)

John Carpenter's all time classic Halloween film about the Boogie Man himself introduced the world to Michael Myers. Halloween is one of the original slasher films that still keeps movie goers on the edge of their seats year after year.

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

For years Tim Burton has brought his dark beauty to the silver screen, and he captured my heart with this one. You see, the story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman is my all time favorite story and has been since I was a child. The Burton brought the imagery and dark scenery to life in ways that honestly I had only dreamt about. So this is a must for me!

I do have tons of personal go-to films that I would have loved to mention, but then it wouldn't be a top five would it..? Some have said my list is a bit on the childish side... Well, Halloween brings out the kid in me more than any other time of year, so I usually tell them to deal with it!

I hope you've enjoyed diving into a personal side of me, and if you're so inclined, please leave me your list in the comments. I'd love to hear them... Until then, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

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The Devil's Candy is a 2015 horror film both written and directed by Sean Byrne (The Loved Ones (2009)) and starring Ethan Embry, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Shiri Appleby, and Kiara Glasco. I must admit - if not for the recommendation from a friend regarding this film, I may never have seen it. I'm glad he told me about it! The Devil’s Candy seemed to be kind of a sleeper hit that really packs a punch!

The Devil's Candy is the story of a young family who purchase an old farmhouse in southern Texas and quickly realize that along with the mortgage comes a horrific history that threatens them all. Ethan Embry plays Jesse Hellman, a loving husband, father, metal head, and painter. After moving into the family's new home, Jesse becomes almost possessed through his painting. Pruitt Taylor Vince co-stars as Ray, a man who suffers from demonic voices in his head, has been on an ultra-violent killing spree of young children, saying he needs to feed them to him. But Ray is also having a homecoming – to the same home that Embry and family now inhabit.

As Jesse's paintings become more and more detailed and violent, Ray gets closer and closer to the home, as do his abductions and brutal murders. Ray suffered from violent tendencies as a child, even being hospitalized due to them, and now he wants to come home.

Ethan Embry, known for playing fun-loving, almost goofy, characters (Dutch, Empire Records, Can't Hardly Wait), may seem an odd choice. In my opinion, though, Embry needs more serious/darker roles because HE NAILED IT! Although he plays the good guy and proud father in The Devil's Candy, he displays a dark side through his character’s possession and is brilliant!

Co-star Pruitt Taylor Vince (Constantine, Monster, and Identity) is NEVER a letdown in his performances, and his stellar job as Ray Smilie is so believable that he gives you nightmares during the day.

The film moves quickly but doesn't skip ahead or leave any stone unturned in the storytelling. My only gripe with lies with the film’s lighting. While all normal shots are filmed fine, too many of the action scenes are near unwatchable. I've viewed the filmed a few times now (yes, I'm a fan of it), and it’s just too dark no matter how the lighting is in the room. I’ve even tried adjusting the contrast on my TV set. Still not helping. Don’t get me wrong; I don't mind when a film has off screenshots that make you use your own imagination. Oftentimes it’s more effective - and disturbing. But when a scene is shot on film for the audience to view but is too dark for viewers to make out anything, then I have a problem with it.

The Devil's Candy is currently playing on Netfilx, and I seriously can't stress enough that you should sit down and watch this it. Truly this is one of the best overall horror films I've seen in a while.

The Houses October Built 2 is the highly anticipated follow-up to the sleeper hit The Houses October Built (2014). While the original kind of flew through under the radar, it has since gained a huge cult-like following of fans - myself being one of them!

To summarize the original for any one who may not have seen it, five friends in an RV tour parts of the southern states in search of the ultimate haunt. While on this quest, they catch wind of a strange and intriguing haunt called The Blue Skeleton. Sensing this is just the thing they’ve been searching for, they begin to pursue The Blue Skeleton. Through word of mouth and clues that are mysteriously given to them, they eventually find themselves in the middle of what quickly becomes a life or death haunt, ultimately bringing viewers to a satisfying cliffhanger. As the film ends, viewers are left wondering WHAT HAPPENED!?!

The Houses October Built 2 is the highly anticipated follow-up to the sleeper hit The Houses October Built (2014). While the original kind of snuck through under the radar, it has since gained a huge cult-like following of fans - myself being one of them! >The Houses October Built 2 picks up right where the original left off and answers all the questions generated at the end of the first film! Fast forward to one year later. The group is now both famous and infamous in the haunt industry from having survived their encounters with The Blue Skeleton – encounters which were live streamed – and are now sought after to make celebrity appearances at haunts nationwide. Instead of seeking unique and terrifying haunts, the tables have turned and the haunts are seeking out them. So back to the RV they go!

Through the group’s stops and travels, however, viewers are shown a blueish colored feed of the group as they are videotaped – one of the group in particular. Brandy, who has been nicknamed Coffin Girl, seems to be targeted. On their journey, the group stop at a few very cool haunts, including haunted hay rides, a Zombie Pub Crawl, and (for the physically fit) a Zombie-Run! One of the haunts, however, was a tad more extreme than the others - something Brandy is now totally against as her last trip has left a few mental scars.

As in the first film, lead Zack Andrews is still on the lookout for the extreme and eventually catches wind of one and off they go. Keep in mind that the further the group goes down the rabbit hole, the more intense and disturbing the secretive videotaping becomes.

I'm not going to go any further because I refuse to give away any spoilers away. I will say one thing, however, and that is that the first film really left viewers wondering. Hell, three days after I first watched The Houses October Built 2, I was still in my head asking myself, “WHAT THE FUCK?!?” LOL!!! Folks, the cast and crew did it again. And, as with the first film, when you think it’s over and you start to understand what happened, pondering it more deeply and questioning everything that has gone before, BAM!

The Houses October Built 2 stars the same great cast and continues showcasing great real life haunts and Halloween events. This haunt realism was a big part of the original film’s appeal, garnering a huge fan base with a very small character base. Filling the film with actual haunt actors, The Houses October Built gave complete credit to the hard-working haunt actors as well as both supporting and helping revive the life and spirits of haunts across the world!

I don't know if The Houses October Built 2 can ever be any better than its original, as I adore the film, but it gives it one hell of a run! Zack and Bobby – you two are incredible! Great job!

It’s 10:15 am, and I have arrived for what will become my fourth time to Monster Mania horror convention. The guest list was actually pretty decent this time around, and I always look forward to seeing my horror family and friends who attend regularly. As I pull in front of the hotel, I'm automatically routed through the parking lot, past what was a free parking lot of a closed on the weekend business plaza but is now a $15.00 pay to park ripoff. Well, that shit ain't going to fly with me, so I ended up about three blocks away. My choice, but honestly, I think having to pay to park now is a pretty shitty deal. Onward to the CON!!

Aside from honestly wanting to see the faces of old friends, I had an agenda. You see, House of Tortured Souls - after much waiting and pulling of hair - finally has merchandise. T-SHIRTS!!! I had one on (looking awfully dapper, I must add), and the three that I brought with me were spoken for. Two were for the Soska sisters, Jen and Sylvia. How could I present a shirt to only one of them? The final shirt was slotted for ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian. I was on a mission from God!

Monster Mania, I am here! The lobby held the usual handful of stragglers and lines already formed for certain celebrities. I made my way through the lobby to the ticket table to pay. Now I understand conventions and also understand a large percentage of the staff is comprised of volunteers. I could only hope the two not so pleasant ladies I encountered were volunteers and not representatives of the convention itself. No eye contact, no verbal greeting of any kind, didn't even ask how many. As a matter of fact, I actually had to get their attention, not that they were busy, but they just didn't care. It was as if I was placing a food order - although at least at a fast food joint, the employees would have acknowledged me. After I got my wrist band from Ms. Happy, off I went.

The layout is always the same, and in my opinion, is done quite nicely. Having to go from one end of the building and through the always crowded lobby to get to the main celebrity room can be a pain if you’re in a hurry - and especially so if the hallway leading to the celebrity rooms is packed with people waiting in lines that have been formed to keep the main room operable. So it works, no one to blame, it's a busy place. And when it's busy, and in the middle of August, it tends to get a bit warm and the air conditioners just can't seem to handle the demand. Again, no one's fault.

After getting my wrist band, I headed over to the main celebrity room to find where the lovely Soska sisters were. To my surprise, they hadn't even shown up yet, and there were only about 10 people in line for them. So I became number 11. They didn't show up for about 45 minutes, but I really didn't mind because I waiting next to Ms. PJ Soles, who was already hard at it, working alone. An autograph and picture combination was only $20.00! I wish more were like that. She had a good, constant line going, and everyone - including her - seemed to be having a good time! For those of you who know me, I've always said that PJ Soles is the nicest lady you would ever want to meet.

At last the Soskas came out and were cheery and loving to everyone there! Of all the celebrities I have been fortunate enough to meet, I've got to say that the Soska sisters are by far the most energetic and appreciative of the people who come to see them. When it was my turn at bat, before I could even say hello, they were literally on the table giving me a hug. Everyone got a hug. I told them of the website and presented EACH of them (lol) with a t-shirt, sticker, and business card for House of Tortured Souls. Jen read off my phone number to me and said, “Halloween will be here and I will be pretty busy, as you can imagine, but don't be surprised if I do call”. She gave me her email address and told me to reach out to her for the interview I had mentioned earlier. The two of them offered to do a video promo with the shirts I gave them, hugged me again, and I was gone. It was a pleasure and honor to have had the opportunity to meet them. So that's one – or two! - down.

I made my way back through the now heavily crowded ticket area and lobby to get to one of other celebrity rooms on my way to meet Scott Ian!! I have been a big fan of Anthrax since....8th grade? I've seen them numerous times in concert but have never actually met any of them, so this was a really big deal to me - especially since Scott is a horror fan himself. I walked straight through the room and right up to his table where, to my surprise, there is not one person there to see him. I smiled, introduced myself, and explained the website and how he was part of my mission. I inquired about trying to set up an interview, and without even looking at me, he said simply, "Contact my label". Nevertheless, I presented him with his shirt, also with card and sticker, and he quickly handed it to the person that was with him and it was out of sight. I had to think quickly as his attention wasn't on me and he didn't seem to even want to be there. I asked if I could grab a picture of him just holding up the t-shirt. Sadly, he gave me this look and said simply, "Yeah, I really don't like to do that". Before I could feel like any more of a loser (since I now felt completely destroyed), I shook his hand and thanked him for his time, turned, and casually walked away. Maybe he had a bad morning, maybe there was no hot water in his shower, or maybe his breakfast was cold. Who knows? There could have been a million different things that might have been wrong with Mr. Ian that morning. After talking to others about him later, they all said how much fun he was the night before. Well, he is a rock star, and they usually don't do mornings. What was I thinking? What I was thinking was that he was there for his fans, and despite what issues may or may not have been, he was supposed to be there for his fans. I am still a fan, but I do wish things had been different. He was just very unreceptive. Oh well...

I then made my way through the now pretty damn crowded venue and skimmed through all the vendors. Sooooo many vendors… I truly wish I had a lot more money to spend on because I wanted it all - from t-shirts to action figures to DVDs and custom, handmade crafts! And yes, although you will find a lot of the same items at some vendor tables, there are still many unique items that you just don't find anywhere other than at cons.

I did have the pleasure of running into a good handful of friends, and it was, as always, great to geek out with all of them. Then, I looked past them to see a dark figure in the distance, a man with a certain presence about him. It was the one and only Father Evil. Father is a good friend of mine personally and I always look forward to seeing him at the show. It's a thrill to see just how far he has come and to know how far he's headed! Lou, to you and Sarah, all our love and support!

Now, from the moment I stepped foot in the lobby, there was something not right...something was amiss. It actually took me a while to put my finger on it, but I suddenly realized what it was. There was next to no cosplay. There were, of course, fans dressed as their favorite horror characters, but there was really no cosplay to be found. This was something that always welcomed me to the con as clowns would at the entrance to the circus big top. And that’s what had been missing all day - the circus! If you’ve ever attended a con, you know that attendees take tons and TONS of pictures with those cosplaying. It really kind of warms you up and gets you in the festive spirit of the convention. Through trusting friends, I found out later that day that the promoters of the Monster Mania wanted all cosplay people to pay even if they were just hanging out in the lobby. Many cosplay people attended and staked out in the lobby, just to add to the party, free entertainment if you will. Were they causing issues? Not that I could tell. Now, for whatever reason is was - be it money alone or what, I really don't know, sadly many have since sworn off returning. This was not just a shame; it was a damn shame. It really seemed to have taken away from the spirit of what I knew to be Monster Mania.

As 2:00 pm neared, I had done just about all there was to do. I hadn't planned on staying late, or even till dark, but to be ready to go at 2:00 pm was just wrong. Something was seriously amiss. I made one last round through the building to say my goodbyes. I stopped and thanked the Soskas again and, while doing so, got to shake hands with Sid Haigas he was passing through. So there’s that.

Please, don't get me wrong. I didn't have a bad time at Monster Mania, and I'm not bashing it. I've seen tons of pictures from others who were there, and they all had a good time. I love horror conventions, and yes, I'm a big boy and understand that things are what you make of them. But there was a different feeling this time around. Here’s hoping next year it’s back to abnormal.

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SLAYER...SLAYER...SLAYER...SLAYER...

Did I mention SLAYER? Anyone who has ever seen the band live knows this chant oh so well! Many, many months ago, I was fortunate enough to have interviewed BJ McDonnell on a House of Tortured Souls Live podcast. McDonnell, aside being a great guy, was also the director of Hatchet 3 and most recently helmed the Slayer trilogy of music videos, which are combined make a short story and are INCREDIBLE! Well, after the interview, I had mentioned that I wanted to try to interview Slayer for the website, and after a little pushing, he gave me a few names to try. So try and try I did - for months on end. At last, word of Slayer touring surfaced. Long story short, from one name to another name, from one email to a different phone number, I landed my first photo pass for Behemoth, Lamb of God, and FUCKING SLAYER!!!!!! The days couldn't pass quickly enough!!

Friday, July 28, 2017, was the day of the show. Fortunately, I had a pretty decent day at work, so getting out on time was going to be no problem. All I would have to do is get home, get dressed, and head into downtown Baltimore. Just one small problem: FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS! The entire tri-state area got hit with downpours all day. Their promoter kept in touch with me all day, assuring me the show would continue. Guess I should have mentioned, the show was being held at a pavilion on the inner harbor, so weather could have had a huge impact on the show.

So after getting into downtown and saying FUCK YOU to the pavilion parking ($50.00! Ha!), I parked two blocks away in Little Italy (for $3.00). I then walked my ass through the now heavy mist of rain, got to will call, and there it was - my beautiful pass. I had seen Slayer many times growing up, but it was this show, at this moment, that my knees actually shook for a second.

By the time I got in, Behemoth had already finished their set, so I pulled out my camera and lined up in between the stage and the barrier that surrounds the stage. Lamb of God came on and put on one HELL of a show!! I’ve always enjoyed them, but truth be known, I wasn't really familiar with a lot of their work. The show they put on made a fan out of me! With photo passes, you’re allowed in a designated area for the first three songs, then out you go so the front row people can enjoy the show without folks in the way.

About an hour later, Lamb of God was off the stage, and Slayer’s crew was setting up. The rain stopped, the darkness took over, a cool breeze whipped through the pavilion, and you could hear the chant - ”Slayer! Slayer! SLAYER! SLAYER!!” The other cameramen and myself all lined up to get into our photo op area. The house lights went out, the roar of the crowd grew louder, and the spotlights projected pentagrams on the ceiling. At last - SLAYER had taken the stage.

The entire time I was in the photo area, I had this smile plastered on my face that couldn't have been beaten off my face with a baseball bat. There I was, standing in between Tom Araya and Kerry Fucking King, snapping pictures like a crazed tourist eager to document every moment! I was there...at the stage...closer than anyone else. The music blared, yet I heard nothing. As I mentioned, this was my first opportunity in a photo pass situation, and it was surreal. I’ve been up to - and even on - many stages for many bands through the years, but this was different. Only a few were allowed to go beyond the barrier, and I got the chance to be one of them.

After our songs were over and it was time for me to head out, I did stop and manage to take a selfie of me and Tom Araya as he was singing. I had to! I walked out and stood outside of the crowd on side stage and watched the show, walking around in awe of what I had just achieved - not only for House of Tortured Souls, but also for myself.

Slayer fucking killed it...as always. The light show was incredible, the sound was awesome, and the line up they played...well, you name it and they slayed it - from new to old. Man I couldn't have been happier. The crowd sang along to all the happy little ditties about God, Satan, war, hatred, violence, and death. I watched over the crowd and saw heads banging, arms flying, and not a single ass in a seat. As I said before, I’ve seen Slayer many times over the years. I am a HUGE fan! Years back, I would have been down in the pit, crowd surfing, or you name it. This time I was glad to have my camera with me and had the chance to watch them for who they are. I was not let down at all.

In between songs as I watched alongside the stage, the crowd screamed, but the band just stood still. Then Tom walked to the mic, hands crossed over his bass, and waited for silence. Watching him stand there, it wasn't a look of arrogance he wore but one of power. And everyone got quiet. It’s hard to explain the powerful presence the band has, but it’s truly amazing to see up close.

For over 30 years, Slayer has remained true to who they are, and it’s safe to say they ain't never gonna change! Say what you will about other metal bands – bands who may have just tour, but Slayer still reigns. Indeed, they are still the best heavy metal band of all time.

Will I continue to go see Slayer if they come back around on another tour you ask...YOU BET YOUR ASS!!

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Remembering George A. Romero

George A. Romero, as many of you know by now, passed on Sunday, July 16, asleep in his own bed. Romero had a small but aggressive bout with cancer, but that is said not to be the cause of his death. Romero was 77.

When one thinks of zombies these days, sadly, most think of The Walking Dead and believe this to be the greatest zombie representation in film (or TV). Not to take anything away from the abundance of talent that goes into making TWD, but if you were to ask its main man Greg Nicotero who he himself was inspired by (as well as any true horror and or zombie fan) and who is the master and father of the modern zombie, you'll get the same answer from them all. That name would be legendary filmmaker George A. Romero.

George A. Romero was born in New York City in 1940. After graduating school, George made many short film and did some commercial work as well. He and friends formed IMAGE TEN PRODUCTIONS where they all chipped in about $10,000.00 each to produce and direct a black and white horror film that became an instant horror classic and a legend among all zombie film to ever be made: Night of the Living Dead (1968).

Romero went on to write, direct, produce, and even act in more than a combined 78 films. Films titles such as The Crazies (2010/1972), Diary of the Dead (2007), Night of the Living Dead 3D (2006), Land of the Dead (2004), Creepshow (1982), Dawn of the Dead (1978), and many more.

George A. Romero was always known for his trademark thick rimmed black frame glasses and safari vest. But, more so, was always known for being a warmhearted man who always cared and took the time for his fans. I personally wasn't fortunate enough to have met Romero at any of the conventions that he had attended as a celebrity guest, but I always heard from those who did that he was a very personable and kind man.

The legendary horror/zombie films that Romero made in his lifetime were inspiring to future filmmakers and loved by audiences across the globe. Romero's Night of the Living Dead became the standard for all other zombie films. All, in some way, seemed to be compared to that of Romero, but none ever seem to make the same impact. While Romero's films were always full of great gore, blood, and BRAINS(!!!!), the films always had great stories. They were always driven by characters whose main goal was to survive among the dead for their life. And it always worked!

Mr. Romero, you have been inspiring, admired, respected, loved, and now, most of all, missed.

On behalf of myself, John Roisland, founder and CEO of House of Tortured Souls, thank you, sir, for all the memories you have given to all of us.

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So a few weeks ago I ran into Robert Mukes. Actually , if I had literally ran into Robert Mukers, I doubt I would have have got up off the floor yet... The man is a mountain! I had contacted Robert previously and had arranged an interview with him as he was a guest at the Baltimore tattoo convention a few weeks back. Since Robert was gracious enough to accept and grant me some time for the interview, I made sure I got there early.

Robert Mukes at the 2017 Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention

Robert Mukes, aside from being a towering giant of a man (he stands 6'10”), is, by far, one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He is very friendly, accommodating, professional, and just a great person over all. I do apologize for the back ground noise as the convention hall itself was made entirely of concrete, so everything echoed. A lot.

Regardless of the sound quality, I hope you enjoy this quick interview with Robert Mukes as much as I enjoyed interviewing him. If you're a convention goer, Robert often frequents them as a guest, so be sure to stop by and say hello. And when you do, be sure to tell him that John from House of Tortured Souls sends his best! Thank you, again, Robert!

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With their newest offering Blood Drive, the SyFy Channel makes the jump onto the horror series bandwagon by adding their own dark, twisted, and yet hip show to the mix.

Everyone who knows me also knows that I'm not much of a TV person. I’ve always been a movie kind of guy. Over the past few years, yes, I will admit there have been some very appealing shows. Bates Motel, The Exorcist, Ash vs Evil Dead, and Hellavator - very entertaining and I loved the concept of the show, and, most recently, American Gods.

Plus, I love seeing that more and more horror style shows are coming to the surface. It proves that horror is alive and well! When I first heard of Blood Drive and saw that it was a SyFy Channel series, I swore I heard taps playing far off in the distance. To me, the SyFy Channel (no offense to anyone), seems to put out the worst original shows ever made. They’re just pure low budget, badly acted piles of shit! Many people actually eat those kind of shows up, and more power to you, but they’re not for me.

Then I then saw the trailer for Blood Drive, and I have to admit that I was really taken by the quality of what I saw - good looking quality, great looking quality actually, high action, acting looking passable, and BLOOD...lots of blood!!!

The premise of Blood Drive is a race where people are forced to participate. Once the race has begun, it’s win or die. There's a catch, you see, because the cars are fueled with human blood. So it is not only a race; it’s a race to stay alive as the blood that fuels your ride is that of your competitors.

The Blood DriveFacebook page calls it the “BLOODIEST SHOW ON EARTH” and welcomes all perverts, nymphos, freaks, and felons while also proclaiming , “finally a show for cannibals and psychopaths”!

I must admit that the show looks pretty damn good...kind of a Death Race, The Road Warrior, and The Fast and the Furious got together in an ugly threesome and the result was this bastard child. The show has a deliberate grindhouse feel to it as well. I like that! Who knows? Maybe this will be the SyFy show to win me over.

The show premiered Wednesday, June 14th, so check back Sunday for a review from Brenda Wilder Antlitz.

*Editor's Note: We will have a review of Blood Drive soon and apologize for the misunderstanding. -Woofer McWooferson, Editor-in-Chief

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WEBSITE ANNOUNCEMENT

EDITOR'S NOTE: Big News, fellow Tortured Souls, as your home away from home, House of Tortured Souls, will be undergoing maintenance beginning 5 June 2017. Please bear with us during this time, and thank you for understanding.-Woofer McWooferson

AND NOW THE NEWS

Hey, horror freaks. It’s me, John, bringing you the first edition video of HoTS NEWS! I will be putting my ugly mug in your face every damn week and bringing you updates, news, and all else that we find worthy of your time!

This is my first run at bringing you HoTS NEWS, so please bear with me as I get my feet wet in front of the camera. Each show will get better as I go along, this I promise you, so please take a few minutes and enjoy the news.

This week on HoTS NEWS, I touch base on Tobe Hooper’s alleged attack, the end to Tales from the Crypt, the return of House of Tortured Souls Live podcast where we proudly welcomed Joe Stauffer to the studio. I also talk about the release of the highly anticipated Friday the 13th video game and wish a handful celebrities a warm and wonderful birthday from all of us here at House of Tortured Souls.

Until next time…Keep it Evil...

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Hey, everyone! Welcome back to HOUSE of TORTURED SOULS LIVE with very special guest MR. JOE STAUFFER!!! We apologize to all of you for our long hiatus, but John got lost in his beard and Allen is still looking for a damn Pepsi!! We have a great one on one interview sit down with writer/director Joe Stauffer. Joe, as you know or should, brought us the 2014 smash Indie horror film Pieces of Talent.

On a personal note, not only is this at the top of my Indie list, this film is at the top of my all time favorites list! I absolutely love this film as I feel it is a true work of art brought to life on the silver screen, all the more reason I was so excited and enjoyed getting to become friends with Joe Stauffer. And it was a great honor to have him on the House of Tortured Souls Live Podcast!

Joe sits and discusses the making of Pieces of Talent, Indie films, and a few possible things brewing for the future of Joe Stauffer and Shutter Blade Media.

So grab a seat, and a cold beer if you have one. Then sit back and enjoy the show! Joe, its always a pleasure talking to you, and we thank you for your time and everything you've done for us.

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Zombieopoly, is a horror-based board game that is a blast to play! Most of us grew up playing the the great board game Monopoly. Through the years, though, specialty versions with their own twists on the timeless classic have emerged. Monopoly variations are everywhere and are inspired by everything. One version is based on legendary rock band band KISS, another on fast food giant McDonald’s, and another on the great city of Chicago. You can even play Monopoly slots in casinos.

Well, the folks over at Late for The Sky have put their horror minded twist on it. In 2013, they released their adaptation for coffee tables and families everywhere ― ZOMBIEOPOLY! And it is a lot of fun!

The overall structure and layout of the game is the same as the original: pick your piece, buy properties, get rich, and rule the game! It’s the small details that make Zombieopoly so amusing to play.

For example, Chance and Community Chest cards have been replaced by Stagger and Crawl cards. Be careful while pulling a card. Most are harmless but some are interactive. My son, for example, had to crawl on the floor doing his best zombie impression and yelling for BRAAAAAAAAINS!

Zombieopoly at John Roisland's house.

Properties are all there as well as the utilities but with a few small changes. All properties are now zombie-related and tailored to the type of zombie. I played this about three weeks ago with my kids, and we all had a lot of fun.

All spaces now contain beautiful, detailed art work.

The object of Zombieopoly, just as the original, is to own as much property as possible and have the most money for the win. Now, as most of you know, you’ve never heard anyone say, “Let’s play a quick game” because there is no such thing! I know first hand that playing can go on in to the wee hours of the night and competition can bring out the worse in some players ― especially when playing with zombies, and Zombieopoly is no different! So, if you’re going to sit down and play with friends or even the kids, you’d better get comfy.

John Roisland and family enjoy a game of Zombieopoly.

I’m thrilled to see more horror-related games available that don’t require an Internet connection and a remote. Zombieopoly is available at most retail stores and online, including Walmart, Amazon, and TOYS-R-US, and ranges in price from $19.99 ─ $38.99.